Apparatus for casting pipe or the like horizontally



J. R. M WANE- APPARATUS FOR CASTINGTIPE OR THE LIKE HORiZONTALLY Filed May 12, 1923 ishee'lzs sheet 1 CIT-1:47!

WITNESSES April 28, 1925.

J. R. M WANE APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIPE OR THE LIKE HORIZONTALLY Filed May 12, 1923 Jams-E INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES April 2 J. R. M wANE APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIPE on THE LIKE HORIZONTALLY Filed May 12, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

wrmssss's A 28, 1925. J. R.-M WANE APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIPE on THE LIKE HORIZONTALLY Filed May 12, 1923 4'Sheets-'-Sheet 4 wrruss'ss's ATTQRNIY Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. MCWANE, 0F BIRMINGI-I.AM, JALA BAMA.

APPARATU non. easr ne PIPE on THE LIKE I-IORIZOINTALLY.

\ Application filed. May 12, 1923. Serial No. 638,640.

the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to ladles for casting pipe or other similar castings by the horizontalcasting method, and means for handling the same, so as to enable the making of longer castings than has heretoforebeen possibleby this method. J i

The object of the invention is to provide means for transferring molten iron, in: a trough-type, multiple-lipped ladle greater in length than those ordinarily used, from a cupola or other source of supply, in a manner to eliminate the danger and damage caused by the surging of'the metal which is usually present in the ordinary methods of Another object is to provide a ladle of strong and durable construction, having means for guiding and controlling thesame, and means for tilting when desired, and for preventing the accidental tilting thereof, and for placing the same in position for receiving 1 the metal from the spout of the cupola and for adjusting-the position of the ladleto the varying flow of the metal therefrom.

A further object is to provide means for supporting the ladle before the cupola and for removing the ladle therefrom in a radial direction to place theladle in line with the overhanging rails of traveling cranes, and thenmoving the ladle in a direction at right angles to thefirst movement,either to thegright or the left, to place the ladle beneath one of said cranes for hoisting and transporting the same to the proper place.

V A final object is to provide means on the ladle for attachment to spaced lifts or hoists carried by each of the cranes, said means being in the form of swiveled links located at each end of the ladle to permit the latter to swing about longitudinal axis for tilting during the pouring, said hoists having ad justable connections for attachment to the links, and having a commonelevating speed so thatthe elongated, multiple-lipped ladle may be raised uniformly throughout its length to prevent the surging of the molten metal.

I A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification; it being understood thatwhile the drawings show a practical form ofrthe, in-

vention, the latter .isnot confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long assuch changesor modificat ons mark no material departure. from. the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims, a

1 "The present application is a companion application with another filed of even date herewith and entitled Pipe foundry plant,

in whichthe subjectmatter herein is disclosed,but no claim to the same is made.

In the drawings, 111 which similar reference characters designate COIIGSPOIIdIIIg parts throughout the several figures a Fig, 1 is aplan view of the improved ladle mountedon its supporting means to permit its lateral and longitudinalmovements and illustrating the pivotalfeature thereof.

Fig. '2 is a digramlnatic sectional view, on a smaller scale, showing the. relation of the ladle and its mounting to thecupola when filling, and to .theadjacent portion 'of one ,ofthefbays having the traveling crane in position on the overhanging tracksforreceiving said ladle and carrying the same to i the desiredmold for pouring, asillustrated in'dotted lines. 4 a l Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the ladleand mounting before the cupola and drawn on the same scale as Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a vertical, longitudinal section .through'the same; i

F ig. 5 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of theladle drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the'ladle. Fig. '8. is an elevation of the Opposite end of the ladle. I f 1 'Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one of the flasks having the mold therein, and illustrating the plurality of pouring gates in the same for receiving the molten metal from the multiple-lipped ladle.

In common practice, ladles, which may be of the ordinary bucket-shape type, or elongated trough-shaped, are carried by a single bail rising from a trunnion at each side or end of the ladle, and converging to a central point above the ladle for attachment to a single lift or hoist. Beyond a certain point in length, in the case of the elongated or trough-type ladle, it is impracticable to use this type of bail, for the reason that the metal surges from one end of the ladle to the other while being transported, which is due to the single point of suspension, and the operation of transferring and pouring molten metal is thus made a most dangerous one, and the necessary uniformity of flow from the various lips along the length of the ladle is materially interfered with, when pouring is attempted during such surging movement of the metal within the ladle.

The aim of the present invention is to entirely overcome this difficulty by providing means whereby the metal may flow into the elongated ladle from the cupola, while said ladle is rigidly supported in the desired adjusted position before the same, said means permitting the ladle when filled, to be moved radially away from beneath the spout of the cupola, transversely of said ladle, and then to move the same longitudinally, while still being rigidly supported at each end to reduce the surging to a minimum. The longitudinal movement brings the ladle beneath the crane of the desired section or bay and said crane is equipped with spaced lifting means for attachment to the ends of the ladle, which is lifted from its support at a uniform speed at each end, thus preventing surging, and is carried to the desired point for pouring, the ladle having means for preventing its accidental tilting during transportation.

W'ith these objects in view, the invention includes a ladle 1 which is in the form of a long narrow trough having spaced parallel sides and a rounded bottom 2, formed preferably integrally therewith, and of some suitable metal of sufficient thickness and strength to withstand the heat and weight of the molten metal to be poured therein. The ladle is adapted to be repeatedly lined with suitable clay when necessary for contact with the molten metal, such lining being found to suffice generally for a days pourings, and said lining is indicated in dotted lines at 3 in Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings.

The ends of the metal comprising the sides and bottom of the ladle are closed by end heads l, to which the same may be suitably riveted or welded to form a structure of great strength, and along the exterior of the bottom 2 there are secured spaced, radially-disposed ribs or heels 5, which serve to strengthen or stiffen the ladle, and which may also serve to support the ladle in up right position in case it is desired to place the same upon the ground or floor of the foundry.

In addition to the ribs or keels, the ladle is provided at the upper, free edges of the side walls thereof, with inner and outer reinforcing strips 6 and 7, respectively, said strips extending from end to end of the ladle and being secured in position by riveting or welding.

One side wall of the ladle is provided with a plurality of spaced outlets or openings 8 for the flow of the metal, and said openings have their upper ends flush with the lower edges of the adjacent strips 6 and 7, while their lower ends are somewhafl above the upper face of the rounded bottom 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 and on the exterior of the ladle wall having the openings 8 therein, there are secured, as by riveting, a plurality of spouts or lips 9, one over each of said openings, the spouts or lips having their lower or outer walls formed into a compound curve for facilitating the flow of the metal when the ladle is tilted in an obvious manner, and also having the lining 3 therein.

The opposite wall of the ladle is left imperforate, and. when the ladle is placed before the cupola, said imperforate wall is located next to the same, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Each end head 4 of the ladle is provided with a trunnion 10, about which there is passed a loop 11, washers 11 being suitably held to the trunnions to prevent removal of said loops 11. The upper, spaced end portions of the loop 11 straddle a bar or link 12, to which the same is securely bolted or riveted, to form a swiveled hanger at each end of the ladle and permit the same to freely swing therein upon a longitudinal axis.

One end of the ladle is equipped with suitable worm gearing, indicated generally by the reference numeral 13 suitably encased in a housing, and provided with a hand wheel 14'. for operating the same to prevent the ladle from accidental upsetting or tilting while in transit, and to manually tilt the same by means of said hand wheel when it is desired to pour, but such gearing being old for the purpose, no attempt has been made to illustrate and describe the same in detail in the present application.

At the other end the ladle is provided with a pair of spaced, outwardly-flaring handles 15, suitably bent and attached to the sides of the ladle to serve as guiding and positioning means before the desired mold, and to enable an operative grasping said handles to assist the other operative manipulating the hand wheel in tilting the ladle to the proper degree.

The upper ends of the links 12 are pro vided with vertically-disposed slots 16 for a purpose to be explained, and adjacent to of trunnions at each end of the ladle being in alinement and of sufficient strength to support the ladle when filled withmolten metal.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the cupola 18 is located at the end of a section or bay, of the foundry, as defined between the upright, spaced rows of Lbeams or columns 19, and between the first pair of said. columns and the cupola there is arranged a transverse track having the rails 20 passing along the ends of any number of s such bays.

Mounted on the rails 20 is a transfer car 21 sultably formed of channel irons lnto a rectangular frame provided with wheels adapted to said track to permit of the movement of the car along the same to a position opposite any one of the bays? The transversely disposed channel irons 22 of the transfer car 21 serve as tracks for the wheels23 of a supplemental car 24, constructed of spaced channel irons 25 (see Figs. 4 and 5), and suitably held together at their tops by plates 26 and otherwise reinforced as desired, the ends of said channel ironscarrying suitable brackets 27 provided with trunnions' forthe wheels 23, there being two of such wheels and brackets at each end of the supplemental car which are spaced apart to lend rigidity to said car, the wheels having suitable guard plates 28 partially surrounding the same.

The brackets 27 serve as hangers and permit the supplemental car 24 to occupy a position substantially on a level with the plane of the transfer car 21, and the rails 22 of the latter serve as tracks for considerable transverse movement of the supplemental car thereon, since the latter is considerably narrower than said transfer car and is in a position to abut the longitudinal members of the same to prevent the supplemental car from being moved or rolled entirely off therails 22.

The supplemental car beams 25 carry a central bracket 29, having a vertical bore 30, inswhich is mounted a pivotal post 31, having anenlarged lower portion provided with an annular groove 32, in which is seated a transverse pin 33, having its ends supported in the bracket 29 and in the channel irons 25, the said pin serving to prevent the postfrom falling from its seat. The upper reduced end of the post 31 is mounted in the bore 34 of a similar bracket 35, secured be tween the central portions of spaced channel irons 36 comprising a turntable suitable washers being interposed between the brackets to compensate for the resultant wear of the parts.

The channel irons 36 are braced at their upper edgesby plates 37, and they carry at their ends, upright cradles or supports 38 having V-shaped notches 89 in their upper ends, for the receptionof the aforesaid trunnions 17 ofthe ladle 1, the bottoms of said notches being on alevel so as to support the said ladle in a horizontal position.

The transfer car 21 is adapted to shift the ladle 1 mounted on the supplemental car 24 from a position in front of any one of the bays of the foundry plant to a position before the cupola 18, and by a movement, of the supplemental car 24 transversely of said transfer car, the ladle 1 may be brought to a position directly beneath the overhanging spout 40 of said cupola, or in the proper position to receive the metal asit flows therefromyit being preferable to have said ladle so positioned that the stream of metal will fall substantially at the longitudinal center as well as the transverse center of the ladle.

Tlhe bays between the columns 19 are each provided with suitable tracks 41 (see Fig. 2), between which are provided sills for receiving and supporting transversely disposed flasks 43, said flasks comprising the usual cope and drag sections each of which is provided with pairs of end trunnions 43 F ig; 9), for connectiontopairs of lifting cables of overhead hoists to place the flask sections in position on the sills 42. One pair of alined trunnions 43 is somewhat longer thanthe other pair sothat one pair of lifting cables may pass the other pair to permit the flask sections to be inverted, while sus pended, in order to position the same or to shake out the sand of the molds therein after casting. Each mold is provided with a plurality of gates 44 formed therein, there being a gate for each of the spouts 9 of the ladle, but since the construction of the flasks and the molds form no part of this invention, no detailed description or showing of the samewill be attempted. Reference is here made to the aforesaid application for a detailed showing.

The upright columns 19 support elevated tracks 45 at each side of the bay, and upon said tracks there is mounted to move longitudinally thereof an overhead, traveling crane 46 under control of an operator carried thereby, and being provided with a range them exactly on a horizontal plane for connection with the slots 16 of the hangers 12 of the ladle 1, when it is desired to lift the cradle from the car by the crane lVith the ladle positioned in front of the cupola, and the spout thereof pouring metal into the same, it sometimes happens that the stream fluctuates where issuing from said spout, by reason of a heavy flow when the cupola is full of molten metal, or by reason of a diminution of the supply therein, when it becomes necessary to either swing the ladle about its central, pivotal axis on the post 31, to allow the stream to strike at an angle within the ladle to prevent splashing of the metal, or to move the supplemental car bodily away from the spout or closer to the same, as the case may be, to properly position the ladle to catch the stream. After the ladle is full, it is straightened parallel with the supplemental car, and the latter is moved outwardly away from the cupola spout to about the center of the main transfer car 21, which then takes the ladle in a transverse direction to a point opposite the desired bay, all of which are equipped with an overhead crane x6, whose tracks 45 extend over the transfer car 21 so the cranes may be run to a position directly over the latter as shown in Fig. 2. On arrival at the proper bay the ladle is moved to a position on the car 21 remote from the cupola, and the hooks 50 are lowered and engaged in the slots of the hangers or links 12, whereupon the winding drum 4L7 of the overhead crane is actuated to wind simultaneously on the two lifting cables 48, and the ladle is lifted uniformly at both ends and carried to the proper flask 13 for pouring, without any danger of spilling any of the metal, or the surging of the same during transit. A reverse operation takes place on sending the ladle back for ire-filling.

The provision of the turntable on the supplemental car not only has the advantage of permitting the ladle to be adjusted before the spout of the cupola for receiving the metal, but the same is especially useful where it is used in connection with the alternate or modified form of plant shown and described in the aforesaid copending application, wherein the several bays are arranged at right angles to the line of movement of the transfer car, and it becomes necessary to turn the ladle 90 degrees to adapt the same for lifting by the means carried by the several cranes in said bays and in this case the ladle-supporting cradles are mounted directly on the transfer car.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a simple means has been provided for handling a multiple-lipped ladle of more than ordinary length, for the purpose of enabling the manufacture of longer length pipes or other similar castings by the horizontal method of casting, said means taking care of the ladle while being filled at the cupola, and enabling the same to be positioned before the cupola spout in a manner to prevent spilling of the metal no matter how fast or how slow the metal may issue therefrom depending on the amount of molten metal therein. It will be further seen that the 1112111161 of lifting the ladle, and the novel construction of the latter to facilitate its being lifted and transported by the crane, is such as to prevent the surging of the molten metal, which has been so disastrous where it has been attempted to handle relatively long, multiple-lipped ladles in the ordinary manner. By the use of a multiple-lipped ladle in connection with a mold having gates throughout the length of the casting, the latter may be more quickly and perfectly cast, the pipe or other objects may be made in longer lengths.

What is claimed is 1. A multiple-lipped ladle provided with trunnions at the ends, and swiveled hangers mounted on the trunnions and adapted to be connected with and disconnected from lifting means.

2. A multiple-lipped ladle having longitndinally-disposed trunnions at each end, and hangers rotatably mounted on said trunnions and having means for connection with and disconnection from lifting means.

3. An elongated metal pouring ladle having a plurality of lips or pouring spouts, said ladle having end walls provided with alined outstanding trunnions, hangers rotatably mounted on said trunnions to permit the ladle to be tilted, said hangers having slots in their upper ends for connection with and disconnection from lifting means.

4:. An elongated metal pouring ladle having a plurality of T-irons mounted longitudinally of the bottom on the exterior thereof to strengthen the same and to provide rests therefor.

An elongated metal-pouring ladle having a pair of longitudinally-disposed keels fastened to the exterior thereof at opposite sides and equidistant from the vertical cen ter for bracing the same and providing rests for the ladle.

6. An elongated metal-pouring ladle having a plurality of pouring spouts formed in one, long side wall, separate lips connected to the spouts to direct the metal therefrom, end walls joined to the side walls and the bottom of the ladle, outstanding, alined trunnions extending from the end walls and at the vertical center of the same, and swiveled hangers mounted on the trunnions and having slots for connection with lifting means.

7. The combination of an elongated multiof acupola.

ple-lipped ladle having hangers-at each end for connection with and disconnection from a hoisting means, a pair of laterally-extending trunnions carried by the ladle adjacent each end thereof, and a car having cradles for the reception of said trunnions to position and support the ladle before the spout 8. The combination of an elongated, multiple-lipped ladle having swiveled hangers at each end for connection with and disconnection from hoisting means, laterally-extending trunnions carried by the ladle adjacent to the ends thereof, and a transfer car mounted on tracks for movement in one direction and having a supplemental car movable thereon in a direction at right angles to the transfer car, said supple-mental car having cradles or supports for the reception of said trunnions to position and support the ladle before the spout of the cupola.

9. The combination of a multiple lipped ladle having alined hangers at each end, with a crane having means for connection and disconnection from said hangers at each end and for hoisting the ladle simultaneausly at, both ends, said hoisting means having a common hoisting speed so as to prevent surging of the molten metal from end to end of the ladle. j

10. An elongated ladle provided with end trunnions and having a plurality of spaced pouring spouts, and a swiveled hanger mounted on said trunnions at each end, said ladle being provided with means for tilting the ladle manually, said means holding the ladle against accidental tilting.

11. An elongated ladle provided with end trunnions and having a plurality of spaced pouring spouts, a swiveled hanger mounted,

on said trunnions at each end, said ladle be ing provided with means for tilting the ladle manually and for holding the ladle against accidental tilting, and handles provided at the end of the ladle opposite the tilting means, said handles being located on opposite sides of the trunnion.

12. The combination with a ladle car, of a turntable mounted to turn thereon and provided with cradles at opposite ends having seats at their upper ends, and a multiplelipped ladle provided with trunions adjacent each endto rest in said seats.

13. An elongated multiple-lipped ladle having a pair' of laterally extending trunnions carried by the ladle adjacent to each end thereof.

14. The combination of an elongated vmultiplelipped ladle having a pair of latof the ladle, a supplemental car, cradles mounted on said car to receive and support the ladle, a main transfer car beneath and supporting the supplemental car to allow the latter to move thereon in one direction, said main transfer car being movable at right angles thereto in either direction to carry the ladle to different points.

17. The combination with an elongated ladle provided with end trunnions and having a plurality of spaced pouring spouts, n'ieans for locking the ladle against accidental tilting and for manually tilting the same, hangers carried by the end trunnions of the ladle, a supplemental car, cradles mounted on said car to receive and support the ladle, means carried by the supplemental car to permit the ladle to be swung in either direction about a central, vertical axis, and a main transfer car beneath and supporting the supplemental car to allow the latter to move thereon in one direction, said main hangers carried by the end trunnions of the ladle, a supplemental car, cradles mounted on said car to receite and support the ladle,

means carried by the supplemental car to permit the ladle to be swung in either direction about a central vertical axis, a main transfer car supporting the supplemental car to allow the latter to move thereon in one direction, said main transfer car being movable at right angles thereto, and a crane provided with spaced uniformly operated liftingmeans for engagement with the hang ers of the ladle.

19. The combination of a ladle having hangers at each end, a transfer car mounted on tracks, a supplemental car mounted on the transfer car and adapted to be moved thereon at right angles to the movement of thetransfer car, a pivotal post rising from the center of the supplemental car, a turntable mounted on said post and having up standing supports for the reception of the ladle to permit the latter to be turned in either direction about a central axis, either to place the ladle in proper positionbefore the cupola or for connection with a hoisting means.

20. A multiple-lipped ladle having means adapted to be engaged at each end by hoisting means having a common hoisting speed, said ladle being detachably connected to said hoisting means and transferable from a position before a cupola to said hoisting means or reversely by means of a transfer car.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JAMES R. MQVVANE. 

